CRA: Weather in Cocoa Growing Areas Through 6 May 2025

West Africa. Growing conditions for cocoa improved during late Apr and early May. Rain at Veriground stations in the cocoa area of Côte d’Ivoire increased to about 107 mm in 30 days, similar to the upper range of recent seasons. National stations reported 119 mm during Apr. On any day of the past two weeks, more than half of all stations have reported rain. As rain increased, humidity rose to 80%. Temperatures declined. The 10-day average high across Veriground stations in Côte d’Ivoire was 34.7°C and the 10-day average low was 22.6°C, for an approximate all-hour average of 28.7°C.  At national stations, the average high of 21-30 Apr was 33.2 and the average low was 22.9, for an approximate all-hour average of 28.1°C.

Academic studies suggest that cocoa production suffers from temperatures above 32°C. Each Veriground stations reports temperatures each hour, which makes possible a comparison of tree productivity with the number of hours above 32°C. A relevant study is underway at CRA.

In Ghana, Veriground stations reported 108 mm during the latest 30 days and national stations reported 122 mm during Apr. High temperatures of the latest 10 days at Veriground stations declined to 34.9°C and low temperatures decreased to 22.6°C for a 10-day approximate all-hour average of 28.8 °C. Humidity rose to 80%. In Nigeria, Europe’s ERA5 satellite monitoring shows that rain now covers the western cocoa area.

Other areas. In Brazil, rain near Bahia’s cocoa area rain has slowed to about half of normal for the latest 30 days. Rain in Para also has decreased to two-thirds of normal.  After six-weeks of  very heavy rain, the storms in Ecuador are slowing. There have been no reports of crop losses. Rain in Peru’s cocoa area has been cycling around normal during Feb-Apr. Rain in Sulawesi has been exceeding normal by about 15% with wide fluctuations. ENSO. No change. NOAA in its Apr report considered that ENSO-neutral conditions are now present and will continue through the Northern Hemisphere summer. NOAA’s report for May has not yet appeared.